BROWN DERBY CLOSES

Booth No. 5, where Clark Gable proposed to Carol Lombard, is one of the artifacts to be saved from the famed Brown Derby restaurant on Vine Street, which has served its last meal after more than 56 years as a movieland landmark.

The restaurant, which opened on Valentine's Day 1929, closed Wednesday because of problems with its lease.

Esther Williams, sunning at her Bel-Air pool, wondered what would happen to her framed caricature, one of hundreds that adorned the eatery's walls.

"We are taking off every picture, every chair, every booth, every lampshade and storing them until we open up our new Derby, and everything will be the same again," spokesman Fred Lewin said.

Bartender Miles Haithcock, a 4-year veteran of the Derby, said employees did not know of the plans to close the restaurant until they reported to work Wednesday.

"All the stars came here," Haithcock recalled as people milled about wondering why the restaurant was shutting down. "I waited on William Holden and Arthur Godfrey before they died.

"There were so many -- Cornell Wilde, Morgan Fairchild, Chuck Connors. Ricardo Montalban was in just yesterday."

The restaurant was known not only for its famous clientel but also for two dishes invented there -- the Cobb Salad, named after late owner Bob Cobb, and a grapefruit cake.